The federal government intends to keep the accounting firm KPMG as its chief adviser on Canada’s shipbuilding program, as MPs examine a separate $1-billion loan that helped BC Ferries buy four vessels from a Chinese state-owned shipyard.

The move would add at least another $14.5 million over two years to KPMG’s 10-year advisory role on the federal National Shipbuilding Strategy, which oversees construction of vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy, Coast Guard and Transport Canada.